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About Time for a Mya Update

Sorry I've been a bit hopeless with Mya updates but I been a bit snowed under lately (not literally obviously - more liked rained in up here at the moment, if anyone mentions the word 'drought' to me again I'm gonna hit em LOL). Wet muddy gardens and 2 white dogs........... nuff said

I've been working on the back fence in between the rain. I ache in places I didn't even know could ache, and I've been bitten by mozzies in places I did not know they could get to but I am happy the back fence is now secure. However, now I am completely paranoid about all my fences. They are 6 ft but still I look at them and think,

"She could get over them if she was really determined."

I have never seen such a 'springy' dog. I think she might be part kangaroo!! She can leap so high and so far it's amazing, but scary.

I mentioned the invisible fence to stop Mya and Jenna going into the 'bush' at the bottom of the yard, well I've decided I am going to put it all round the yard to make it more secure. It's a big enough area for them to still get the zoomies and give the fences a wide berth, once they have both been trained to avoid it. That's the plan anyway I ordered the Sureguard system on Thursday (It was a toss up between that and the Innotek one but I liked the Sureguard better, the collar receivers are much smaller as they do not have rechargeable batteries in them but I don't mind buying new batteries every 6 months or so) so as soon as that is done we can start the avoidance training. Fingers crossed they learn quickly.

They are getting on well together. They are playing together more. Jenna is besotted with Mya, keeps bringing her toys to her and shoving them in her face "play with me, play with me". Mostly Mya has not been interested but today they actually had a little bit of tuggie going on. I'm watching to make sure things don't get out of hand but it all went well. Mya appears to be the dominant one, although it is always Jenna who initiates any 'play' between them. After a bit of tuggie Mya decided she wanted the toy so pinned Jenna round the neck with her mouth and Jenna gave up. Mya was pretty gentle though so I'm hoping it's ok for her to pin her like this? Any advice here would be appreciated. I've never had 2 dogs so still learning. There is never any yelps, not even any growling so I figure they are just working out who is top dog. It all stops if I intervene and I do take the toys away at the end so they both know actually I am top dog. Do you think this is the right thing to do?

Oh, another question. Whenever I am fussing Mya, Jenna always comes and butts in. I am unsure how to handle this. Do I ignore Jenna, or fuss them both? Neither are aggressive when this happens at all, Jenna just wants to join in. The opposite does not happen, if I'm fussing Jenna Mya is not concerned.

Mya's eating has improved. She is getting RMB for breakfast and Eukanuba for tea most days with Sardines a couple of times a week. She lost a bit of weight the first week but has put that back on She is currently about 13.7kg. I can still feel her spine and her hip bones so she definitely needs a bit more meat on her. I'm thinking she will be perfect at about 16kg but we will see how she goes. It's a slow process but slow and steady eh?

They are sooo cute!! I dont know how you do it. Im stressing because I diseded to keep and show my little party boy and he has HEAPS of white... how to you keep them so clean??

EDIT: I realise I forgot to mention that Jennas butting in is normal. She is just trying to make sure you still love her even with Mya around. Just give her attention first but then ignore her when you are patting Mya, she will learn that yes, she is still loved, but you can love Mya too.

Last edited by Ashaari; 03-13-2010 at 02:14 PM.

Breeding, Showing, Training and general crazy making!!!
If you seek understanding listen to the music, not the song.

TKay, the girls look beautiful. Jenna sounds like she is just curious when your fussing with Mya. And Mya knows that Jenna was there first, so she just doesn't worry when you are fussing with Jenna.
I don't think I have any advice to offer, but sure someone will have some.

Adorable. We finished a new fence around our vegie patch today (although it wasn't half the work that you had!) to keep Ziggy out.

Is Jenna dominant? If so I would fuss her too. We don't fuss Ziggy when we're patting the cats, but that's because I want Ziggy to think them above her so she will leave them alone. Seems to be working.

Sorry I've been a bit hopeless with Mya updates but I been a bit snowed under lately (not literally obviously - more liked rained in up here at the moment, if anyone mentions the word 'drought' to me again I'm gonna hit em LOL). Wet muddy gardens and 2 white dogs........... nuff said
I've been working on the back fence in between the rain. I ache in places I didn't even know could ache, and I've been bitten by mozzies in places I did not know they could get to but I am happy the back fence is now secure. However, now I am completely paranoid about all my fences. They are 6 ft but still I look at them and think,

"She could get over them if she was really determined."

I have never seen such a 'springy' dog. I think she might be part kangaroo!! She can leap so high and so far it's amazing, but scary.

I mentioned the invisible fence to stop Mya and Jenna going into the 'bush' at the bottom of the yard, well I've decided I am going to put it all round the yard to make it more secure. It's a big enough area for them to still get the zoomies and give the fences a wide berth, once they have both been trained to avoid it. That's the plan anyway I ordered the Sureguard system on Thursday (It was a toss up between that and the Innotek one but I liked the Sureguard better, the collar receivers are much smaller as they do not have rechargeable batteries in them but I don't mind buying new batteries every 6 months or so) so as soon as that is done we can start the avoidance training. Fingers crossed they learn quickly.

They are getting on well together. They are playing together more. Jenna is besotted with Mya, keeps bringing her toys to her and shoving them in her face "play with me, play with me". Mostly Mya has not been interested but today they actually had a little bit of tuggie going on. I'm watching to make sure things don't get out of hand but it all went well. Mya appears to be the dominant one, although it is always Jenna who initiates any 'play' between them. After a bit of tuggie Mya decided she wanted the toy so pinned Jenna round the neck with her mouth and Jenna gave up. Mya was pretty gentle though so I'm hoping it's ok for her to pin her like this? Any advice here would be appreciated. I've never had 2 dogs so still learning. There is never any yelps, not even any growling so I figure they are just working out who is top dog. It all stops if I intervene and I do take the toys away at the end so they both know actually I am top dog. Do you think this is the right thing to do?

Oh, another question. Whenever I am fussing Mya, Jenna always comes and butts in. I am unsure how to handle this. Do I ignore Jenna, or fuss them both? Neither are aggressive when this happens at all, Jenna just wants to join in. The opposite does not happen, if I'm fussing Jenna Mya is not concerned.

Mya's eating has improved. She is getting RMB for breakfast and Eukanuba for tea most days with Sardines a couple of times a week. She lost a bit of weight the first week but has put that back on She is currently about 13.7kg. I can still feel her spine and her hip bones so she definitely needs a bit more meat on her. I'm thinking she will be perfect at about 16kg but we will see how she goes. It's a slow process but slow and steady eh?

I haven't taken many photos, naughty me, but here are a couple

You'd think with all this rain my grass would look better

Playing tuggy earlier today

Hey, I've got a 'dam'( more like a frigging acrefull of puddle) at the bottom of our 3 acre paddock,raining constantly, two WHITE HORSES(argh) and the first show coming up in a few weeks time. AND two orange tails and two yellow manes. AND a white dog and a chocolate point cat. and a black and white cat.so there. what you complaining bout??
Also what breed is Jenna? Maremma looking. Those two are soo beautiful.

Oh Tkay, thanks so much for updating us. You know I've been wondering how things are going.

Sounds like Mya has taken her place as dominant dog between the two. I think things will work out great, as it sounds like Jenna has totally bowed to her whims and is indeed happy as Larry to have a canine playmate.

The issue with Jenna butting in when you re having one on one time with Mya is a catch-22 in my opinion.

I must admit I'm old fashioned, and as I often had 2 or more dogs at a time, I wouldn't like ti when other dogs would butt in whilst I was attending to one, so to speak. Particularly if I was attending to the leader of the pack.
I would simply ensure that you make sure since the arrival of Mya that you give just as much attention as usual to Jenna - IF NOT MORE. Hope that makes some sense.
Perhaps you could also attempt getting Jenna to sit quietly when she does this. That way she WILL get attention also at the same time, IYKWIM?

Hi Tkay they are both absolutely stunning and looking better and better every time I see them.

IMHO and it is just my opinion I prefer dogs not to have a pecking order. With my mums dog Sam and Bailey they are completely equal. They eat at the same time, get walked at the same time, get petted at the same time etc etc. It seems to really work; neither are jealous of the other and it stops any dominance issues between them

Perhaps that is just what works for me and my circumstances though But hey just a thought!

Thanks for the doggy updates, and I'm glad you're working on the keeping the dogs at home. It doesn't get much more scary than missing dog.

Frosty has just started butting in when I'm patting other dogs at the park. I don't mind and I pat her too as I want to encourage her to stay close to me. She doesn't snap at other dogs and they don't snap at her when she does this.

The only time the butting in thing is annoying is when I want to talk to Frosty or treat her or catch her and I've got four or five dogs or just one big pushy poodle X butting in between me and Frosty. Sometimes those dogs get kicked by me if they don't clear off and the need is urgent.

Beautiful pics Tkay. Just melts your heart. You only have to look at that first one to see the pecking order between the 2 of them. Jenna is in a drop & Mya is sitting & therefore over the top of Jenna. It's good that Jenna has ceded her position without any fuss. It's probably what she wants anyway. That's how it is with Tara & Spirit. Tara was here first, but when Spirit "blew in" like the white tornado that she is, Tara was happy to play 2nd fiddle. They get pretty rough in their play. Sheps are very vocal & energetic when they play which is why I take them to the park when no-one is around. They act & sound like they are going to kill each other, but nothing could be further from the truth as they absolutely adore each other. As I speak, they are having a verbal mouthing & shirt fronting session over a dog bed, so I'll pop off to the park after this. Both Tara & Spirit "attention nudge" when I'm involved with the other of them, but I figure there's enough love & attention to go around, so I'll do a "group hug".

You're doing great with Mya Tkay. A bit of a fright with Mya nicking off the other week, but other than that, it's all going very well I'd say.